Mike Martin MP: speeches

Speeches

• 9 Jun 2025 · Chinese Embassy Development · Hansard source

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  I think we can all agree that we would like a decision to be made in this case that does not encourage the Chinese Government to think that we are a soft touch. Let us try another tack. National security is going to be taken into account as part of this planning decision. I ask the Minister this hypothetical question: if there is only a 1% chance that the granting of this planning application causes some detriment to our national security, would it not be better to take a risk management approach and put the embassy somewhere else?

• 9 Jun 2025 · Planning and Infrastructure Bill · Hansard source

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  I completely agree that not enough social homes are being built. Does the hon. Lady think we should have a target for social homes in the Bill?

• 13 May 2025 · Flooding: Planning and Developer Responsibilities · Hansard source

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  Hawkhurst parish council and Southern Water recently came to see me to complain about a number of developers in my constituency who have mixed surface run-off with foul water, which is illegal. Does my hon. Friend agree that, although we of course need big housing developments, if developers are proven to have illegally mixed surface run-off and foul water when building them, they should have to make good what they did?

• 12 Mar 2025 · Housing Development Planning: Water Companies · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend has just said that a lot of sewerage is unadopted. Say it was built in the 1800s by public subscription and nobody has adopted it since. That allows water companies to shrug and say, “Search me, guv’” when there is a problem. Does she think that the Government should by statute or law require that all of these unadopted watercourses be adopted by a water company or the Environment Agency, so that when there is a problem there is someone we can point to and say, “This is your problem to solve”?

• 20 Jan 2025 · English Devolution Bill: Local Public Services · Hansard source

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  I want to ask about the interaction between the planning reforms and devolution, which are two huge bits of legislation. In Tunbridge Wells we have a local plan, but we have been asked when we do our new local plan to have a 66% increase in houses. Except, we will not have a new local plan because Tunbridge Wells borough council will cease to exist—it will become part of the West Kent unitary authority. How will these two huge reforms interact and what will it mean for housing numbers in Tunbridge Wells?

• 2 Dec 2024 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I represent Tunbridge Wells, and just over the boundary in Wealden district, a large housing development is proposed. Wealden will get the houses, but the infrastructure burden will fall particularly on my constituents who live in Tunbridge Wells. Will the Secretary of State update me on the reforms to the NPPF? What is being done about this problem of cross-boundary infrastructure?

• 10 Sept 2024 · Rape and Sexual Violence: Victim Support · Hansard source

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  How many prisoners are going to be released today in Kent, and can the Secretary of State guarantee that none of them will be homeless within a month?

• 2 Sept 2024 · Ukraine · Hansard source

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  As with so many things in international affairs, American support is indispensable. So it is with support for Ukraine, yet the election of President Trump et al threatens that. Have the Government conducted any contingency planning as to how to continue full support for Ukraine in the event of the potential election of President Trump?